Standing in the Gap

Image Credit: Warren Wong

Are you standing in the gap for someone today? Is it for a family member, a friend, a coworker, or perhaps a stranger? The term, “Standing in the gap” is more associated with Biblical references.

“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV) Essentially, when the wall of the city was breached, vulnerable to destruction, the only way to secure the city was for people to risk their lives by physically standing in the gaps of the wall to fight the enemy.

But today, I think about standing in the gap for innocent people and for those who are vulnerable to challenges that are tough to deal with on their own. Many times this type of breach may not be in a physically destructible way, but the spiritual aspects of it can be devastating. Sometimes people ask you to stand in the gap by praying for them, particularly when they are going through grief and other life-altering occurrences. We show our support through our love, empathy, actions, and compassion. Sometimes our strength and support, when we stand in the gap, can empower the person we are there for and form a “united front” to defeat or at least make those destructive and challenging forces, back down.

Think about what you can do to stand in the gap for someone who truly needs a support system with a defense mechanism they didn’t know they had. Trust me, all of us need someone to stand in the gap for us too at some point and time. That time could be right now.

The Healing and Intimate Power of Touch

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Touch is a powerful connection of communication.

I was reminded of this message about the power of touch when I watched a show on TV last week, where the character, a well-renowned surgeon, had already self-diagnosed himself when he came into the emergency room. He requested a specific doctor who was one of his former med students. One of the things this surgeon taught his students was to be aware of when patients are nearing the end of their life or when many have received a weighty diagnosis and never forget to administer compassion and the human touch. During times like these, people are afraid and feel alone. He told them to hold the patient’s hand in order to comfort them and assure them that they were not alone.

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While I understand that doctors have many patients to see, it’s always a good practice to be sensitive and have good bedside manners, by not speaking too clinically but relaying the patient’s condition to them and their families with an ounce of empathy and compassion. I remember having to remind my mother’s doctor of her frosty attitude when mom was having her leg amputated. I took her aside and asked that she up her ante on her compassion quotient and lessen her brash, no-nonsense, hands-off clinical approach when discussing mom’s surgery in front of her because that was my mother, not an animal. I didn’t get into analyzing this doctor’s attitude with her, I simply asked her to be mindful of the way she spoke about my mother’s condition in front of her and us. Maybe that was this doctor’s approach to avoid getting too close to her patients. But, during the rest of my mother’s stay in the hospital, I didn’t have to worry about her doctor’s rigidity after that.

The power of touch, that compassionate and empathetic physical gesture, is something we yearn for when we feel broken and dismayed. Hospitals aren’t the only places to administer such sensitivity and humanness.

Never underestimate the healing power of a gentle touch or a soothing, reassuring tone in your voice. Whether giving someone a hug or holding their hand as they deal with a difficult situation, approach your nonverbal gesticulation with heartfelt kindness. You never know when you will need an empathetic, loving, and caring touch.

It’s Been 12 Days, My Heart is Full, and My Gratitude Meter is Off the Charts

www.kymgmoore.com

Oh, my dear friends, seasoned and new, I had to pause here and take a deep breath as I ruminate on my gratitude quotient since my book launched 12 days ago. When I say that I am humbled, grateful, and overjoyed by some of the most endearing things and congratulatory expressions many of you articulated about my book and mission, I sincerely mean it from the bottom of my heart. Sheer joy and delight engulf my spirit, and when I tell you I’m verklempt, I really am. It’s hard to express in detail what my heart feels except pure joy.

In appreciation for all of the reblogs and mentions over the last 12 days, I want to thank all of you for the outpouring of continued support, love, and encouragement I didn’t see coming. My eyes are big, but not that big. 😲 All of you have shown me a compassionate heart of support that is undeniably genuine. This has taken my breath away in more ways than you can imagine. Thank you, with heartfelt appreciation, even though I couldn’t name every one of you.

But now, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the following people who have been amazing cheerleaders out of the gate or have been so kind to reblog my blog posts. I am so blessed to be in their orbit of energy.

Cindy Georgakas, Unique Times with Cindy

Michele Lee Sefton, My Inspired Life

Ned Hamson, Ned Hamson’s Second Line View of the News

Alma White, Unholy Pursuit, Devil on My Trail

Dwight Roth, Roth Poetry

Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris, Gypsie’s Wonderful World of Words

All of you have no idea how much my heart is flipping as we speak. That excites and energizes me for this journey! I am truly blessed. Thank you all for being such an amazing part of this experience. Just remember…

WE ARE POETRY!

Spring Self-Cleaning

Image Credit: Linnaea Mallette

        Typically, spring cleaning involves dusting, cleaning, vacuuming, wiping down, testing batteries, organizing, and disinfecting by freeing our home of cobwebs or buildup that has settled over the last season or two or three.

        Far too often than not, we tend to overlook or neglect cleaning up our mind, soul, body, and our personal environment which affects our personal growth. What improvements do we need to make to improve the quality, health, and purpose of our lives? Remember how many of us zeroed in at the beginning of this year with resolutions to improve our well-being? But how did that truly work out for us?

        Sometimes we can become frustrated, discouraged, and unmotivated to do something new when we are bogged down with old stuff that needs a thorough clean up and cleanout. It’s literally like taking a self-care laxative to flush and declutter the toxicity that weighs our system down.

Image Credit: Martina Ledermann

        Do you need to improve your physical care by focusing on your body, stamina, and health? Do you need to improve your social care by subtracting toxic people and environments that create mental stress? Do you need to improve your educational care by learning something new, positive, and purposeful? Do you need to improve your spiritual care by creating a sacred space to pray, breathe or meditate? Do you need a financial reboot to manage your money better, reduce impulsive spending, or save more? What is keeping you from making the necessary changes that you need to make?

        Is it time for a little personal nurturing to divide and conquer those things weighing your spirit down (including those naysayers and dream assassins)? Do you need to make different piles of things, as you would when you are getting ready to donate to charitable organizations of the stuff you need to get rid of that’s clogging and choking the life out of your life? It’s overwhelming to do all of this at once. Take small steps and take a bite out of the big stuff biting you.

Image Credit: Linnaea Mallette

Throwback Thoughts

Image Credit” geralt , Pixabay

How do you know where I’m going if you don’t know where I’ve been? Do you get where I’m coming from?

        This was one of the poignant lines I remember James, from the 70s TV sitcom “Good Times,” saying when he faced the frustration of constant rejection and discrimination. It seemed like he couldn’t get a break just when he and his family needed it.

        Many of us have felt this way like we could never get that “lucky break” just when we need it. If it ain’t one thing, it’s another, and we wonder how and if we’re going to make it and survive our current dilemma. It appears there is no easy way around it when all roads seem to lead to “No,” or “I’m sorry, there is nothing I can do” when they know they can do something to help.

Dignity

Searching for something
When all I have is nothing
Except this one thing.

© Kym Gordon Moore

Happy #NationalPoetryMonth

How Can We Go On?

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When you feel empty, and you’re throbbing in pain
as you suffer from the aches but can walk straight through it
when we are weak, wearing out and deeply frazzled,
wondering if our inner person can be strong, not delusional
we learn that faith without works is dead being alone.

Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Cherish Those You Hold Dear as Long as You Can

Image Credit: Carin Araujo

Age teaches us something as we get older. Hopefully, those lessons help to make us wiser. Over the past few weeks, it seems like I’ve been experiencing a slight brain fog from seeing firsthand, the pain, agony, and stress those who are near and dear to me are going through. Most of it is health-related and it pains me to see the pain and struggles my loved ones are having to bear. Seeing their challenges makes me take a deep dive into my outlook on life and the loved ones I cherish so dearly. Less of me and more of Thee. 🙏🏽

There are times when you wish you can just whisk away their pain, their illness, their misfortunes. I know I can’t do that, but I focus on what I can do. Whatever support that is within my power is what I offer, no strings attached and no expectations of a pat on the back. At times, I experience moments of reflection about the way things were and what they are now. It pains me to watch someone fighting for their life, and all through my cheers of encouragement to them, I am still saddened to see the struggle.

But for this day, for this very moment that I have been blessed with, I look at the loved ones I cherish, family, and dear friends, and I am grateful for the moments I can share with them, no matter where they are, no matter how far away they may be. I don’t focus on what I can’t do, but I stand where I am in this present moment and ask myself, “Just what can I do?” Then, I just do it! 💪🏽

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